Breech mechanism for breech-loading ordnance.



No. 629,288. Patented luly I8, 1899. A. T. DAWSON &. a. T. BUCKHAM. BREECl-l MECHANISM FOR BREECH LOADING ORDNANCE.

(Application filed Dec. 18, 1898.) (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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'No. 629,288. Patented July 18, I899.

A. T. DAWSON &. G. T. BUCKHAM. BREEGH MECHANISM FOR BREECH LOADING URDNANCE.

(Application filed Dec. 18, 1898.) Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

N0. 629,288. Patented Juiy l8, I899.

A. T. DAWSON &. G. T. BUCKHAM. BREECH MECHANISM FOR BREECH LOADING ORDNANCE.

7 (Application filed Dec. 13, 1898.) 0 "056M 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M: uonms PETERS comuwoumm wAsumaYom n, cy

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR TREVOR DA\VSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUOKHAM, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE VICKERS, SONS & MAXIM, LIMITED, OF

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

BREECH MECHANISM FOR BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,288, dated July 18, 1899.

Application filed December 13, 1898. Serial No.699,164. (No model-l To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that We,ARTHUR TREVOR DAW- SON and GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, citizens of England, residing at No. 28 Victoria street,

\Vestminster, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech Mechanism for Breech-Loading Ordnance, (for which applications for patents have been made in Belgium, dated October to 27, 1898, No. 108,523; in France, dated October 27, 1898, No. 270,319; in Great Britain, dated October 27, 1898, No. 22,606; in Italy, dated October 31, 1898, No. 14,828, and in Sweden, dated October 29, 1898, No. 1,676,) of i5 which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to improve the mechanism of the breech-loadin g ordnance for which Letters Patent Nos. 602,785 and 610,110 were issued April 19, 1898, and

August 30, 1898, respectively.

The breech mechanism to which our invention is applied is of the kind in which the breech of the gun is closed by a screw-plug which has interrupted or segmental threads or rings and is locked or unlocked by a partial rotation on its axis. This plug is carried 011 a swinging arm or carrier which is hinged to one side at the breech of the gun and is moved by a hand lever or by worm gear worked by hand.

The form of obturator which we em ploy is such that the breech-plug can be swung out of the gun without any longitudinal withdrawal directly after it is unlocked.

\Ve shall describe our invention, referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 isa front view, and Fig. 2 is a plan, of the carrier and breech mechanism. Fig. 3 is a part section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2,

and Fig. 4: is an elevation of partof the breech of the gun with the plug and carrier in section.

A is the carrier, and B the breech-plug, which are shown in the open position by the dotted lines A B in Fig. 2, the carrier swinging on its hinge-pin G. On this pin, about midway of its height, we fixatoothed segment D, which gears with a segment of a pinion E,

- pivoted in a recess in the carrier. Part of 5c the periphery of the pinion E has skew-teeth gearing with similar teeth on a pinion F, which is also pivoted in a recess of the carrier, so that it can revolve ina plane parallel to the breech-face of the gun. From the pinion F projects a short arm G, having a pin f connected by a link H to a pin 11, projecting rearward from the face of the breech-plug. The link H and the short arm G are so arranged as to be in a nearly-straightline when the breech is looked, the pin f being then somewhat past the dead-center and the link H bearing against the upper side h of the recess of the carrier in which the parts are accommodated. Thus when the breech is closed the breech-plug is locked against any tend ency to become unlocked by the shock of the explosion.

The hinge-pin O, on which the carrier A is fixed, may be rotated by hand or by worm-' gear K, as shown.

When the firing-gear L is of the kind described in the Patent No. 610,110, the nut and slide are so arranged that the slide instead of moving vertically down to cook the firing-pin for safety is moved horizontally toward the pivot of the carrier. In order to efiect this movement, we employ a connecting-bar M, sliding in a groove on the rear face of the carrier A and havingits one end 0011- nected to the slide of the firing-gear by a spring-pin m, and at its other end there is a second spring-pin n, which projects forward into the recess in the carrier in which the pinion F is pivoted, so as to enter a cam-slot N, formed in the rear part of the arm G. This cam-slot is so formed as to give the conmeeting-bar M a very quick motion toward the pivot of the carrier during the first part of the movement of the arm G before the breech-plug is unlockedthat is, before the 0 pin f has moved back beyond the dead-center. This insures that the charge cannot be fired except when the breech-plug is locked in the gun. By the continued movement the cam-slot N moves the connecting-bar M of the firing-gear still farther toward the side of the gun, causing automatic ejection of the fired primer, as described in the specification No. 610,110, above referred to.

The pins on and n are held engaged by springs, but can be drawn back by hand when it is desired to remove the firing-gear.

In the patents above referred to the firingslide and the mechanism for moving and holding the breech-plug occupy the lower part of the breech-plug carrier, which involves the use-0f an ammunition-holder that requires to be moved a considerable distance for placing it out of the way of the breech-plug carrier and the several parts carried thereby. In our present invention the toggle-action is located in the upper part of the carrier and a horizontal firing-slide is employed, so that the ammunition-holder or shelf on which the charge of ammunition is laid at the breech only requires to descend or move a comparatively short distance to place it out of the way of the breech-plug carrier and the several parts which it carries.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means We know of carrying the same into practical efiect, we claim 1. The combination with the breech-plug, the recessed carrier, and the firing-gear, of a pinion pivoted in the carrier and having a projecting arm provided with a cam-slot, a link pivotally connected at one end with the breech-plug and at the other end with said cam-slotted arm, a horizontal bar'having one 30 end connected with the firing-gear and the other end engaged with the cam-slot in the arm of the pinion, and means for operating the carrier and the pinion to turn the breechplug and move said bar horizon tally, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the breech-plug, the recessed carrier, and the firing-gear, of a pinion pivoted in the carrier and having an upwardlyprojecting arm provided with a cam-slot, a link pivotally connected with said arm and with the breech-plug, a horizontal bar having pins at its ends, one pin connected with the firing-gear and the other pin entering the cam-slot in the arm of the pinion and means for operating the carrier and the pinion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUOKITAM.

\Vitnesses:

EDWARD GARDNER, FRED C. HARRIS. 

